Chapter 99 [Wall Slam.GIF] Niou, why did you provoke her...?
Upon arriving at the entrance of Hyotei Academy's high school campus, Risa's lips twitched as she looked at the gleaming golden statue.
"This is......?"
“Sponsored by the Atobe family.” Yagyu adjusted his glasses. “By the way, this statue was erected when Atobe Keigo graduated from middle school.”
Risa: "......"
—Very good, that's very Atobe.
As soon as the group got off the bus, they attracted a lot of attention from students at Hyotei University.
Whispers from the crowd:
"Look! Isn't that the girl from 'The Blue Bird'? She made my heart break while crying in the movie..."
"But her killer gaze in 'Missed Call' was terrifying; it gave me PTSD."
"Isn't she the one who played with everyone at the Sea Festival along with Lord Yukimura?"
"It really is Risa! What's she doing at our school?"
"Could it be... that she's here to seduce Atobe-sama?"
Risa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gave the students watching a standard smile—the same smile that the media once called "worth a billion dollars."
"Ahhh—!" A small commotion suddenly erupted from the crowd. "That smile! Ah, I'm dead."
"She's so gentle... even more beautiful than on screen!"
"I wonder if I could ask her to design some support merchandise for Atobe-sama..."
"Wake up! This person is a VIP personally invited by Atobe-sama!"
Yagyu walked to the side, his glasses slightly reflecting the glint of light, revealing Risa's slightly twitching lips. He subtly adjusted his glasses and said softly, "It seems we'll have to split up."
Not far away, several students dressed in Hyotei school uniforms, looking like "elites," held cameras and folders: "You two must be Rikkai's doubles pair—Niou Masaharu and Yagyu Hiroshi, right? Please come with us."
After the two were abducted, Risa was left standing alone in front of the square.
"Matsuno-kun."
A lazy Kansai accent came from behind.
Risa turned around.
Yuushi Oshitari leaned against the Roman column and made a "please" gesture: "Atobe is waiting for you in the auditorium."
This man had captivating peach blossom eyes and a carefree smile on his lips, looking every bit the spoiled brat.
Risa followed Shinobu through the long corridor, sunlight streaming through the stained glass, filling the air with dappled light and shadow.
Pushing open the heavy doors of the auditorium, Atobe's expected grand entrance did not materialize; instead, it felt like arriving at a film set.
The makeshift group of students created a chaotic scene.
The clapperboard was scattered all over the floor, the lighting technician was frantically adjusting the softbox, and the director was shaking his head repeatedly at the monitor: "This composition is too rigid, it completely lacks the style of Hyotei..."
My professional instincts were instantly ignited.
Risa walked to the lighting setup and tapped her fingertip lightly: "The main light is too harsh, add a layer of soft light. Adjust the reflector angle to 30 degrees and add some shadow to the jawline."
Before anyone could react, she turned to the photographer and said, "Move the camera 15 degrees to the right and open the aperture to f/1.8 to highlight the texture of the hair in the backlight."
"My film set—"
A magnificent voice pierced the air. At the entrance of the auditorium, Atobe Keigo stood with his arms crossed, his fingertip lightly touching his beauty mark.
"Since when did outsiders have the right to point fingers? Huh?"
Risa turned around.
"Just some suggestions," she said, pointing to the monitor. "The current lighting makes facial features look stiff, especially when backlit. The face needs filler lighting, otherwise it'll look like a silhouette. Of course..."
She paused meaningfully, "If Atobe-kun is fond of the 'Shadow Emperor' type of chuunibyou character, then disregard what I said."
"Pfft—hahaha!" Shinobu laughed out loud from the side, but forced himself to cough under Atobe's murderous gaze.
A student wearing a "director" badge timidly raised his hand: "Um... after making the adjustments she suggested, the effect did improve a lot..."
Just as Shinobu was about to speak, he was swept by Atobe's sharp gaze and immediately made a gesture of pulling his mouth shut.
Atobe turned to Risa, a smile playing on his lips. "It seems that someone who can make Yukimura lose face isn't just good with words."
Risa chuckled, "Oh dear, Atobe-sama has a really good memory."
"Hmph." Atobe smiled faintly. "So, how does that legendary 'genius strategist' from Rikkai University, this rising star in the entertainment industry, plan to instruct our Hyotei on acting?"
"I wouldn't call it giving pointers." Her smile deepened. "However, as someone who 'once made Yukimura suffer,' I might be able to offer some friendly advice."
As Risa bowed, the hair clip emitted a faint light, catching Atobe's eye. He recognized it as a gift someone had painstakingly chosen for her.
I never imagined that even someone like Yukimura Seiichi could become such an ordinary person when it comes to love.
Shinobu pushed up his glasses, the glint of light flashing across the lenses for a fleeting moment, his gaze subtly shifting between the two of them.
"That's interesting."
Atobe snapped his fingers, and the member standing to the side immediately handed him the storyboard.
His gaze was sharp yet smiling. "Then let me see what surprises your 'friendly advice' can bring."
Risa took the script, her eyes bright as she looked up: "Atobe-kun, you're really comfortable entrusting this to me like this?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm just giving you a chance to prove yourself. If you mess this up, you'll owe Rikkai University's tennis club a huge favor..."
Atobe glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips: "But you'll have to repay it with interest."
Risa was taken aback.
Good heavens, it turns out that the tennis club and the Atobe Foundation signed an unequal treaty during the Umihara Festival.
“That’s perfect.” Risa opened the script. “I’d love to see it too—”
"What price can the dismantled imperial aesthetics fetch?"
She flipped through the script with practiced ease, reading almost ten lines at a glance.
“Here, here, and here… the camera work is all so outdated.” She picked up a pen and sketched on the script, “Use a Steadicam to follow the camera and show the entire campus, then use a crane shot to freeze the view on a landmark building…”
The room fell silent; everyone was awestruck by her technical jargon. Even Atobe narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...Finally, add an aerial shot, edited using montage techniques." Risa closed the script, looking up to meet Atobe's gaze. "Of course, if the budget allows..."
“Budget is not a problem.” Atobe interrupted her, snapping his fingers. “Just film it the way she says.”
Shinobu looked at Atobe, unable to hide his shock: "Are you sure?"
Atobe ignored him and just looked at Risa: "It seems Yukimura wasn't exaggerating, you really are... very interesting."
Risa smiled in response: "Likewise."
The two exchanged a smile, and a tacit competition quietly began.
-
Inside the studio, Atobe looked at the reluctant Niou and smiled with satisfaction: "Looks like everyone's here."
Oshitari, flipping through the proposal, said, "You specifically sent Kabaji to 'invite' Niou here just to watch this good show?"
"Now that Rikkai University has sent an 'elite team,' I will naturally make the most of them."
Atobe snapped his fingers and pointed to the last page of the proposal: "Especially this new 'Tennis Prodigy Special,' we need Niou-kun to showcase his 'special skills.'"
Shinobu looked at the words "slow motion analysis of the magic shot" on the proposal and suddenly understood: "I see... You want him to expose his trick in front of the camera?"
Atobe smiled but remained silent.
"Pfft! This proposal must be fake!"
Risa was directing the lighting adjustments when she heard Niou's groan from the side. She went over and saw Niou holding a newly added shooting plan, his face a deep purplish-red.
"Is there a problem?" Risa asked.
Niou shoved the proposal into her hands: "This requires me to demonstrate the breakdown of the 'Magic Shot'! Is he trying to make me expose myself in front of a national audience?!"
Risa glanced at the proposal. "Isn't this interesting?" she smiled innocently. "Or... is the con artist afraid of being exposed?"
Before Niou could retort, the director had already grabbed a megaphone and shouted, "Niou, please take your position! We're filming your individual scenes first!"
Watching Niou being dragged away by the staff, Yagyu walked up to Risa and asked, "You knew all along?"
Risa blinked innocently: "I just asked Yukimura to tell Atobe that with Niou's involvement, this filming project will be even more eye-catching."
A glint flashed in Yagyu's spectral lenses: "That's all?"
Risa: "I also wrote a proposal on the side."
Yagyu: "..."
Niou, may you rest in peace.
-
By the time he took a midday break, Niou was completely exhausted.
He slumped in his chair, watching Risa and Yagyu leisurely enjoy their special lunch provided by Hyotei.
“You… Puri… did it on purpose…” Niou accused weakly.
Risa handed him a bottle of water: "Niou, why would you think that?"
She pointed to the footage being played and said, "Your performance was great! The comments are all praising 'The magician from Rikkai University is so cool'."
Niou looked up at the screen and discovered that his clumsy dodging had been edited into cool special effects footage.
"Looks like the publicity campaign is working well." Atobe appeared behind them without them noticing.
"In return..." He held a contract between his long, slender fingers and placed it in front of Niou. "This is the 'Hyotei Special Photography Assistant' contract you just signed. Starting this week, report to the photography studio every Friday."
Niou's eyes widened: "When did I sign this?!"
He snatched the document, his fox-like eyes quickly scanning the terms. Wait a minute... are these insane demands even humanly possible? It's more like something a masochist would say!
"Kabachi." Atobe snapped his fingers, and Kabachi immediately handed him the tablet.
The footage clearly shows "Nioh" speaking confidently to the camera: "...This project should continue until the end of summer vacation. I'm willing to take time out each week to work as a photography assistant, learning and providing guidance..."
Risa scooped up a spoonful of pudding and winked at Yagyu: "Well done. Gentleman."
Liu Sheng casually pushed up his glasses, a glint of light flashing in the lenses: "Basic stuff, don't be silly."
“You—” Renou narrowed his eyes dangerously, glaring at the two of them.
Risa buried her head in her food, acting as if to say, "Don't bother me while I'm eating."
Liu Sheng sat upright, calmly adjusting his glasses.
Niou clutched the contract, unable to voice his grievances.
After all, he was the one who first plotted to harm these two people.
This time they really hit a brick wall—and it was a thickened type with three pieces connected together and exceeding the hardness standard.
After finishing her drink, Risa put down her chopsticks.
As if remembering something, she took out her phone and quickly snapped a picture of the dejected Niou.
[Send Image]
[Risa: Your white fox is dehydrated [photo]]
Yukimura replied instantly: [Saved. It would be perfect as a warning poster for the clubroom.]
Risa: You devil! (〃＞＿＜;〃)
[Yukimura: Shall I pick you up tonight? I heard the strawberry parfait at Hyotei's cafeteria is pretty good.]
[Risa: ...You even investigated this?]
[Yukimura: I just happened to know my girlfriend's preferences *^_^*]
【Risa: (づ￣ 3￣)づ】
[Risa: But let's skip it today. Aren't you flying to Barcelona in a few days for the Futures tournament?]
"Matsuno? Shall we go to the lounge?" Yagyu's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Ah...right away." Risa replied hastily, her fingers flying across the screen:
Prepare well, rest well, and don't overwork yourself.
The moment I pressed the send button, it felt too abrupt, so I quickly added:
[I'll treat you to a strawberry parfait another day! (*^_^*)]
"Read" will be displayed immediately above the dialog box.
Immediately afterwards, an animated emoticon popped up on the screen—
[Wall Slam.GIF] (A chibi version of Yukimura leans against the wall with one hand, and gently lifts her chin with the other, captioned: [Trying to escape?])
Risa: "......"
(When did this person create these homemade emojis?)
Click "Add to emoji".
When she gets back, she wants to have the same design drawn.
Liu Sheng noticed her suddenly reddened ear tips and calmly pushed up his glasses: "Should I go first?"
"Need not."
Risa locked the screen, stood up, and said, "Let's go!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Minor revisions on 8/31
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